Newsletter & Product Updates

Conduit Repair Systems: A Solution for Special Projects

Over the years, construction supervisors, utility contractors and linemen have been very creative in finding ways to solve problems related to their outside plant and underground distribution infrastructures. Not every OSP project is a run-of-the-mill job. Many require creative ideas and products. Conduit Repair Systems has developed products that can assist in managing these special OSP projects.

When it comes to repairing or relocating existing ductwork containing critical cables or wiring, there is nothing easier or more efficient to use than Conduit Repair Systems' innovative products. Conduit Repair Systems has a line of split conduit, couplings, sweeps and conduit repair kits specifically designed for electrical, cable TV and fiber optic applications. Conduit Repair Systems' products are Schedule 40 electrical products.

Designed originally as conduit repair products, these revolutionary products have since found many other applications because of their versatility. Not only are they great for repairs, they have also been very useful in enclosing short runs of fiber optics and other existing cables, relocating existing cables or wiring, running up the side of utility poles, transferring overhead service to underground, and a number of other specialized uses.

In the fall of 2002, a large west coast railroad started preparations for reconstruction of a bridge at Parsons Slough, California. This environmentally sensitive area is one of the most highly regulated in the world. Due to settling and erosion of the bridge, it was necessary to rebuild the bridge in a timely manner in order to ensure that the bridge could be salvaged. Running along the side of the bridge was a steel conduit that housed four fiber optic inner ducts.

MCI, the owner of the fiber optic lines, was notified that they would need to relocate theri lines because construction was nearly ready to begin and that the steel conduit needed to be removed because it was rusted, corroded and under water half of the time due to the change in tides. Rather than immediately going in and relocating the fiber optic lines, MCI estimated that it would be cheaper to leave the lines in place if they could find a way to temporarily move the lines and replace the steel conduit once the bridge reconstruction was complete.

Don Beckerman, a construction manager with MCI's west region OSP Services division said, "It would have been too costly to move the fiber optic lines anywhere else. We were determined to find a solution to the problem, and Conduit Repair Systems was a key part of that solution."

Beckerman said that with approval of the railroad's contractors, MCI would be allowed to go in, remove the steel conduit and temporarily suspend their innerducts away from the bridge while construction on the bridge was performed. When the bridge was completed, MCI would go back in and encase the inner ducts in CRS's split conduit, then reattach the conduit to the reconstructed bridge.

"We had to cut the steel conduit and remove it, dig back 50 feet from the head walls in each direction, and suspend the inner ducts from a cable that was stretched from each end of the bridge. After construction of the bridge was complete, we enclosed the inner ducts in CRS's 6 inch split conduit and reattached it to the bridge using stainless steel hardware," said Beckerman. "Conduit Repair Systems' products made the job much easier considering that we were working from a boat. The split PVC conduit was significantly lighter than steel conduit, easy to use, and less expensive than other alternatives."

When the job was complete, it was deemed a big success. The versatility of Conduit Repair Systems' products helped MCI complete the project in a timely, efficient manner.

Paul McMullin, National Sales Manager of Conduit Repair Systems, said, "One of the key factors in our rapid growth has been that the product has a much wider use than the cable TV market we had first envisioned. Today, our products are not only used by cable TV companies, but also by the nations leading power companies, many municipal power providers, electrical contractors, telephone companies, and many other firms with underground distribution networks."

According to McMullin, people call almost daily offering new uses for the product.

"Some of the more interesting uses of our products we have heard of include enclosing cables before being encased in concrete, for use as pole risers, and for covering exposed cables in lakes that normally are covered by water, but due to drought conditions ahve become exposes," said McMullin.

Another benefit of working with Conduit Repair Systems is their commitment to customer satisfaction. Paul Clove, Chief Operating Officer of Conduit Repair Systems said, "We are committed to saving our customers time and money by reducing the amount of labor required to perform a repair or relocate lines and by minimizing down time of the customers network. "Our customers have saved millions of dollars by using our product," said Clove.

In addition, Jerry Brewer of Sunflower Broadband said, "We had an emergency repair that needed immediate attention, and Conduit Repair Systems responded. The product arrived on time, and it was easy to use. We have developed a long-term relationship with CRS because they are committed to helping us with our special needs."